Alexis Sánchez move to Manchester United may hinge on Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Manchester United’s hopes of buying Arsenal’s Alexis Sánchez may recede should Henrikh Mkhitaryan not wish to move to the north London club, with the Armenian carefully weighing up his options before a possible move from Old Trafford.

There has not yet been contact between Mkhitaryan and Arsenal regarding his terms and potentially moving to the Emirates Stadium. It is understood Mkhitaryan does not view himself as a makeweight in any deal that would take Sánchez to United. Instead, the forward believes he is the key to United being able to purchase the Chilean.

José Mourinho has said he expects “other big clubs” to go in for Sánchez but Antonio Conte does not believe Chelsea are trying to sign him. “I don't know but I don't think so,” the manager said.

United’s prospective terms are thought to include Mkhitaryan being part of Sánchez’s transfer but the 28-year-old is in no particular rush to depart and would countenance remaining at Old Trafford.

Should he opt to do so, this would leave United having to decide whether they wish to finance Sánchez’s transfer without the sum of around £30m they would have received from Mkhitaryan’s sale. When Sánchez’s signing-on fee plus the payment to his agent are factored in, this would mean United having to part with around £60m for a player who is out of contract at Arsenal in the summer.

There is also the question of whether Arsène Wenger would allow Sánchez to leave if he did not have Mkhitaryan as his replacement, though Arsenal’s manager is also pursuing Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.